LAST year was the Scottish Government’s Year of Young People and I believe we are still reaping the benefits today from this particularly successful campaign.
I met an inspiring young woman last week when I interviewed her for Rock Sport Radio’s Let’s Hear it For The Girls. Hope Gordon, originally from the small village of Rogart in Sutherland, now lives in Nottingham and trains every day in her chosen sport, para-canoeing, as part of a cohort of athletes funded by UK Sport. Gordon had a life-changing decision to make at an early age and she powered through this with absolute confidence and the support of her family, knowing that she was doing the right thing.
Gordon was just 12 when a kickabout at school set off complex regional pain syndrome in her leg. At times the pain was unbearable and the prognosis from the many specialists she met was that there was no cure.
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After thinking about her decision for two years she decided the only option for her was amputation. She waited five and half years for the operation as she had to crowdfund it but she has never looked back and has achieved a fourth at Europeans, fourth at World Cup and fifth at a world championships.
I think we have for some time underestimated the positive benefits that young people bring to organisations and to society in general. Take Greta Thunberg as a case in point.
At Scottish Sports Futures, we have recognised the benefits young people can bring to an organisation and, as well as a newly created young people’s panel, we have also appointed a young person as a director on our board. It brings a new perspective to the organisation and we benefit greatly from his ideas.
Another example is Scottish Golf’s Young Person’s panel. I recently had the pleasure of meeting two of its members who gave a presentation to the Women’s Advisory Board for Sport prior to the Solheim Cup. We should create the right environment for young people to become an integral part of all organisations as this is another step forward in the diversity agenda.
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